Army Secretary Comments on Iran Negotiations
Army Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the American negotiating team has made “productive progress” in discussions with current Iranian officials, even after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denied any talks were in progress.
On Sunday, President Trump appeared to suggest that Iran has undergone “regime change,” claiming that one regime had collapsed completely and another was on the brink of failure. He mentioned the possibility of Iran entering a “third regime,” suggesting it was reasonable for various groups within Iran to communicate with U.S. negotiators.
Trump reinforced this message in a post on Truth Social, stating, “The United States is in serious talks with a new, more rational administration to end military operations in Iran.”
During a news conference with Breitbart News at the Pentagon, Hegseth expressed confidence in the negotiations, remarking that while progress has been made, determining if the new administration is indeed “more reasonable” is up to Trump’s negotiating team.
“I’ll follow the negotiating team. They’re working on this,” Hegseth explained, indicating that the discussions are ongoing and dynamic. “We stand right next to them, always prepared to support them in any way,” he added.
Araghchi, Iran’s top diplomat, later confirmed that while there had been some message exchanges with the U.S., it doesn’t equate to active negotiations. “There is no truth to the claim that we are negotiating with any Iranian party,” he insisted, highlighting that communication occurs through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and security agencies.
In his Monday post, Trump also issued threats against members of Iran’s new regime—though he didn’t name names—hinting at possible military actions if agreements are not reached soon. He expressed a strong willingness to take decisive action, specifically targeting Iran’s infrastructure as retribution for past violence against U.S. soldiers.
President Trump remarked that he anticipates Operation Epic Fury might conclude within two to three weeks but emphasized the intent to cause significant damage unless an agreement is promptly reached. He also mentioned the possibility of striking a deal before any military action is taken.
